2
letters to the editor
may10
2011
Vernonia Realty & Insurance Center
Featured Property
1001 4th Avenue/Vernonia, Oregon 97064
RMLS# 11324519 Listed at: $184,900
953 Bridge Street,Vernonia, OR, 97064
Office 503.429.6203 Cell 503.780.3466
vernoniarlty@agalis.net
CRAFTSMAN ON THE HILL
This home will
impress you from the
moment you drive
up! Beautiful knotty
alder woodwork
throughout this 200c
three bedroom, two
bath craftsman home.
Big living room with
fireplace and deck,
master with view, all
new stainless appliances in
kitchen and new interior paint.
Enjoy the air conditioning
on the hot summer days!
New "green" school coming in
2012! Check out website:
www.1001at4thAvenue.com
Call me today for your personal
showing. 503-819-7924
Ken & Helen Bateman, Brokers
Properties Available Now!
1172 Maple Street: Nestled
along Bear Creek you can watch
the salmon migrate from your
kitchen window. This comfy, tidy 3
bdrm, 2 bath doublewide features
a heat pump w/ AC, woodstove,
newer roof & paint, dog run, decks,
and many upgrades. $139,000
1299 E Alder: Instantly
appealing and an outstanding
buy with 4 bdrms, 2 baths plus a
2 car garage all on a large lot, it is
NOT a fixer. Kitchen has oak
cabinets & handy island. FR
w/view out into private back yard.
New paint in & out. $199,500
64077 Nehalem Hwy N: Attention
outdoor enthusiasts! Great
riverfront building site or nice
get-a-way property. Over 2½
acres along the Nehalem w/ a nice
fishing hole plus a concrete floored
garage & fixer mobile. Build new
or fix up old mobile. $119,000
Corner of Alabama & Spencer:
Cleared 8712 sq ft, corner lot,
high above flood plain. A few blocks
from Vernonia Lake, Linear Trail &
new schools. Terms avail. $40,000
85914 Northrup Ck Rd: A
charming country road will lead
you to this wooded building site.
Over 12 ½ acres w/barn, silos, and
storage buildings. Spring fed water
source plus septic system is in.
Quiet area West of Birkenfeld.
$199,000
67675 Nehalem Hwy N: Great
views and Nehalem River
frontage. Approximately 3 acres
with a 36x60 ft metal shop w/gas
heat, green house, outdoor
entertainment area, storage
building and 2 bdrm single-wide
mobile home. North of Vernonia.
$139,000
Real Estate Broker
West F off Springboard Ln: Need
some quiet time? You’ll find it
here on this 20,000 sq ft building
site ½ mile from city center. Level
w/trees, cleared area. $65,000
Cell: (503) 819.7924
Email: Sharon@Bernals.com
Springboard Lane: Off the
beaten path. Build your dream
home on this 1.37 acre building
site w/city utilities available.
Plenty of room for outbuilding
and gardens. $90,000
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To The Editor
It is my perception that certain
members of the Vernonia City Council
are partisan. These individual’s actions
clearly imply that all city officials,
including the City Administrator,
should “mirror” their views regarding
public policy or else face termination.
Such a belief in government advocates
intimidation and denies independence
in the role of all public employees.
The termination of Bill
Haack is untimely and has created
chaos and instability within the city
government. The termination also sets
a negative precedent for any future
City Administrator who will be at the
risk of being removed by the Council
without proper notice or justification.
The questionable manner in which Mr.
Haack was terminated will hinder the
process of attracting any qualified and
competent candidates for the position of
Vernonia City Administrator.
The people of Vernonia have a
right to determine whether the process
leading to Mr. Haack’s termination was:
A standard rite of passage which often
accompanies a change in government; or
if the process leading to the termination
violated ORS192.630(2).
Sharon A. Bernal
This statue states that:“No quorum of
a governing body shall meet in private
for the purpose of deciding on or
deliberating toward a decision except
as otherwise provided by ORS 192.610
to ORS192.690”
It is in the people’s interest to
determine whether or not any member of
the Vernonia City Council breached his/
her fiduciary duty either by A) directly
engaging in any activity which violated
ORS192.630(2) OR by B) engaging in
activities which were meant to evade
and
circumvent
ORS192.630(2).
Potential indirect violations will most
likely require further legal interpretation
from a jury.
Since it is the people’s right to
receive full transparency in all of the
Council’s decisions, I have made a public
documents request to receive more
information and further clarification in
the Council’s decision to terminate Mr.
Haack. It is the right of the people to
have available all the legal remedies to
determine if Council members acted
in an equitable and lawful manner. It
is also the people’s right to determine
if any members are personally and
individually accountable for any breach
of fiduciary duty to the people. Should
HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Deadline is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email to: scott@vernoni-
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any breach be uncovered, it is my intent
to seek any and all remedies available to
protect my personal interests as well as
those of others who reside in Vernonia.
Joe Kim
Vernonia, OR
To the members of Vernonia City
Council:
I have lived in Vernonia since
1984 and my family has been here
much longer than that. I feel I have a
real interest in the success of this City.
I have seen councils come and go,
disasters and the like, but I have never
seen such turmoil caused by such a few
people.
This Council is a real disaster.
When campaigning, they swore to do
the will of the people, but now they are
not listening to what the people have to
say. Perhaps a few people in Vernonia
go along with what you’re doing, but
the majority seems to be left without
representation.
Firing Bill Haack was a huge
mistake. He has done so much for this
city. Perhaps he’s not the yes man you
expected, but he was willing to do what
was needed to be done for the good of
the city.
A lot of money is being wasted
at a time the city has none to waste.
Please look at how much money has
been spent on investigating Mike Kay.
And now you think we have the extra
money to spend on PAID administrative
leave for who knows how long? I have
nothing against Mike Kay, but believe
it’s high time we cut bait.
And now we lose our acting
Police Chief? What is going on?
After the flood we were the town to
be admired for its willingness to work
together to get back on our feet. Now
we’ve become the laughing stock of the
area. I realize some of you councilors
have stated publicly you don’t read
newspapers, but it might be a good
idea to read the Scappoose Spotlight or
the Forest Grove Times. The articles
concerning Vernonia are on-line.
I strongly urge you to take a
long hard look at what you’re doing
to the town you profess to care about.
You’ve done such serious damage in the
short time you’ve been in office; it will
take a long time to recover.
The longer you feed the anger
and animosity toward the will of the
people the more the atmosphere of
Vernonia will be poisoned. Please
reconsider your votes on Bill Haack and
Mike Kay, and let’s see what we can do
about Mike Connor.
I expect unless you start
listening to the majority of the people
the turmoil will continue. I urge you to
reconsider your positions or resign.
Carol Davis
Vernonia
To the Editor:
I have just returned home
after attending the May 2, 2011 City
Council meeting. I am appalled,
stunned, mortified, and shocked at the
unprecedented malicious behavior of
three of our council members - our
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